The two maps illustrate the transformation of the city center since 1990. Overall, the city centre has become more residential with construction new apartment blocks and the introduction of some facilities. It is also clear that the majority of the changes took place to south of the town centre while the central and north-eastern parts remained more or less intact.
Focusing on the 1990 plan, at the top of the map, there was a childcare centre facing Smith street to the west of which were services: a café, a butcher’s, a baker’s, a grocer’s and newsagent’s. There was a library in the middle of the town, with a Town Hall to the right and a park to the left. While the houses along Green Street were located to the south of the city and in the bottom left corner, two banks were in the east along the right side of Oldfield Street. To the west of the town was Newton Street.
Since then, the Town Centre has experienced significant changes. While childcare centre remained intact, services: the newsagent’s, the grocer’s, the baker’s, the café made way for a new shopping mall in north side of Smith Street. Where the houses stood, there are now apartment blocks facing Green Street in the south. A new café is in in the east which was previously occupied by the bank. Smith Street used to be for only cars but it has been pedestrianized from Oldfield Street to Green Street. The Town Hall was connected with two pedestrian crossings from the café and apartment blocks. The facilities: the park, the library and The Town Hall between Smith Street and Green Street have remained unchanged.